22 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
library and museum, and it was opened by Lord Selborne on 5th November, 1872.
Mr. Welch was appointed librarian in 1888, and in 1892 he reported that the
library contained 68,369 volumes, and 38,075 pamphlets. These numbers have
now largely increased ; the library is now a most valuable and interesting one, and
exceedingly rich in works on the topography and history of London and its
environs.
The museum was commenced in 1846 by the reception of a large collection of
Roman antiquities, found during the excavations for the New Royal Exchange in
1841. In 1850 the Beaufoy collection of 17th century tradesmen's tokens were
presented, and after the erection of the new buildings the museum grew in im-
portance rapidly, accommodation being found for it in the basement. It now
contains most interesting collections of antiquities, illustrating Roman and
mediaeval London. The rooms in which it is contained, are, however, not well
adapted to the purposes of a museum, and it is sincerely to be hoped that one
day London may be furnished with a museum building worthy of the greatest
city in the world.
Before commencing an inspection of the museum a meeting was held, Mr.
Mathews in the chair, who cordially welcomed the Club, and expressed his
surprise at so large an attendance of Essex people. Mr. F. Chancellor, as
President, cordially thanked Mr. Mathews and Mr. Welch for the kind reception
accorded to the Club, and said, referring to Mr. Mathews' remarks, that before the
establishment of the Club it would have been difficult to secure the attendance of
a dozen people interested in science or archaeology from Essex.
Mr. Welch then read a paper entitled, "Notes on the Origin and Progress of
the Guildhall Museum."
[This paper, it is hoped, will be published by the Museum Committee, with
additions, to form a guide to the museum.]
The party then adjourned to the museum, where, under Mr. Welch's
guidance, an hour was pleasantly and profitably spent in examining the exhibits,
which represent every era of the city's history, from the times when Palaeolithic
man wandered over the Thames Valley, leaving evidence of his existence in the
flint implements which have been found in London, down to last year, when a
medal was struck by the Corporation to commemorate the opening of the Tower
Bridge. The work of cataloguing and classifying the vast number of objects has
been most skilfully carried on by Mr. Welch and his assistants, and the museum
should be better known and more used than it is by frequenters of the City.
On the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Mathews the party then moved into
the picture gallery, where tea and light refreshments were dispensed with the
hospitality of the City Corporation, amidst the pleasant surroundings of
beautiful pictures.
The 154TH Ordinary Meeting.
Saturday, March 9th, 1895.
The 154th Ordinary Meeting was held in a room at the Young Men's Christian
Association, West Ham Lane, Stratford, at 6.30 o'clock, Professor R. Meldola,
F.R.S., V.P., in the chair.
The first business was the nomination of the Officers and new Members of the
Council for the ensuing year in anticipation of the Annual Meeting to be held on